Has anyone ever told you that '“you are out of your mind?!” I imagine we have all been told that jokingly. For example, I plan on covering two chapters of Acts in this Sunday’s sermon. Someone, based on my past record, may tell me, “You are out of your mind!” (It may or may not be a joke - ha!) But has anyone ever told you that “you are out of your mind” in all seriousness? Told you that you are legitimately crazy for something you have done? Or even for something you believe.? Paul is told he is “out of his mind” because of his belief in Jesus in Acts 26.
The rich, powerful, and influential have always had a place in society. Today, we look up to celebrities, professional athletes, industry leaders, and even so-called influencers as one’s to emulate and admire. The same was true in the first century during the book of Acts. There is a terrible downside to wealth and power… people think they are in control of their lives and destiny. Money and power have served them in this life. The danger is that influential people put their dependence in themselves, and not ultimately in God for this life and the next. This is the case in our world today. And this Sunday in Acts we will see this is the case in first century Jerusalem.
At the beginning of each year at The Rock we ask ourselves, “How is the best way to spend our time as a church? What should our focus be as a church?” These are important questions. These questions help guide us in programs, budgeting, giving, and worship. This Sunday I seek to answer in the annual Vision sermon. Join us for a Sunday of worship and vision for 2022!
We are all making decisions of what and what not to do in this season of Covid. We all have different comfort levels and personal convictions of what we participate in right now. I want to encourage each of you to continue seeking the Lord with all of your heart, strength, soul, and mind in worship.
Life has been a wild ride in 2021! What will happen in 2022? Who knows apart from God Himself. But God has revealed how we are to live in 2022. Join us for worship as I conclude the “Incarnation” sermon series. We will focus on “Moving Forward” in 2022. The glory of incarnation leads to a life of incarnation!
At the end of the day, the best way to summarize Christmas and the incarnation of Jesus is… glory. The angels came to the shepherds in Luke 2:9 with the glory of the Lord shinning all around them. The heavenly hosts in v. 14 praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom he is pleased.” And the response of the shepherds was glorifying and praising God in v. 20. Glory is everywhere!
Can you believe it! The 3rd Sunday of Advent is THIS Sunday! I will continue the “Incarnation” sermon series with an incredibly relatable topic relating to Jesus “dwelling among us” - rejection. We have all experienced rejection. Jesus was rejected by all. The sermon will naturally lead us into communion. Come worship and take communion to remember Jesus and receive grace on this 3rd Sunday of Advent. After the service we will eat together at The Point. If you are all-in that night, join in watching the fireworks in Manhattan Beach - we will come up with a plan at dinner. See you Sunday!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
See you this Sunday for the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Two things led me to our holiday sermon series: Incarnation. First, the holidays for the Christian should drive us to Jesus. Thanksgiving gives us a chance to thank God for all of the blessings he has bestowed on us. God’s grace in salvation and God’s continued work in each of our lives leads us to give thanks. And specifically we thank God for his great love proven by Jesus coming to us as the rescuing Savior - Incarnation. Christmas reminds us that God came near - Incarnation. We celebrate God’s plan of salvation starting in the manger with the baby Jesus. Incarnation makes the rest of the New Testament make sense and come alive!
Have you heard Christmas music yet?! Some (wrongly) believe that Christmas music starts as soon as the Halloween costumes are taken off. Whether you think its time for Christmas now or it starts after Thanksgiving, the holidays are upon us. For some this is exciting. For others depressing. But the holidays are here. It seems like everything is a little different. The pace of life. The calendar planning. The eating. So as we begin to celebrate, I thought we could look at The Rock’s schedule for the next couple of months during the holidays.
NOTE: We are meeting at 3:30 pm starting this Sunday… See you then!
Clocks are falling back this Sunday!!! That means it will get dark & cold earlier. Just like last winter, we are adjusting by meeting for our Sunday Service at 3:30 pm. See you this Sunday for worship, communion, and an ongoing renewal of coming in dependence and trust to Jesus!
NOTE: We are meeting this Sunday at 10:00 am! Donuts and Coffee available at 9:45 am - see you then!
Meeting this Sunday at 10:00 am on Halloween Day and Paul’s actions in Acts 21 are related. That may sound weird, but it is true. We worship as Christians in all sorts of cultural contexts. For Paul, his worship in Jerusalem in Acts 21 was in the context of the Jewish-Christian community. Our context today is one that includes traditions like Halloween. How do we navigate both as Christians wanting to please Jesus?! Come this Sunday at 10:00 am and find out!
NOTE: We are meeting this Sunday at 10:00 am! Donuts and Coffee available at 9:45 am - see you then!
Meeting this Sunday at 10:00 am on Halloween Day and Paul’s actions in Acts 21 are related. That may sound weird, but it is true. We worship as Christians in all sorts of cultural contexts. For Paul, his worship in Jerusalem in Acts 21 was in the context of the Jewish-Christian community. Our context today is one that includes traditions like Halloween. How do we navigate both as Christians wanting to please Jesus?! Come this Sunday at 10:00 am and find out!
There are not many causes in this world for which I would risk my life. As much as I love the Dodgers, I would not give my life for another World Series victory. I would really like to play golf at Augusta National golf course, but I wouldn’t take a bullet to play there. But I would risk my life to protect my wife & children from danger. I would hope I would jump into a rough ocean to save a drowning child. There are certain things that are worth it to risk my life. One cause in which I would risk my life for is the cause of Jesus. Jesus is worth it!
In our present political and church climate we need urgency and clarity in defining the church. I fear the American Christian church is confused and misled. This happens in history. This happens to well-meaning, faithful people if they lose focus. This can happen to us at The Rock. The answer is found by looking to God for clarity. The answer is found in God’s Word. Our study in Acts over the last year has provided wonderful clarity for us as a church. It excites me to lean into this clarity even as the national church struggles mightily.
People love to bash the church. Pessimism says the church will never get it right. Cynicism says the church has always blown it - why would anything be different now. Criticism says pastors and church leaders are idiots. Judgmentalism says I’m leaving because the church will never get it right. If these were all we knew, the church sounds like it is in trouble. But this is not all we know. We know Jesus is Lord. We know the church is God’s design for Christians. We know the gates of hell will not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:17-19).
In our seemingly never-ending test of following God wherever He takes us… we are headed back to the Pre-School this Sunday. This should be an easy transition back to something we know. Same time - 4:30 pm. Same location - back pre-school turf yard. Same Sunday School - Cameron will lead outside. Same awesome worship and fellowship!!! See you Sunday for worship, communion, and after service meal.
Often times when law enforcement and legal people are trying to solve a crime they conclude that they should “follow the money.” Behind the violence, deceit, and crime there is most likely a connection to greed. People are motivated and driven by the love of money. This is the case in Ephesus in Acts 19:21-41. Paul’s opponents at this time in Ephesus are concerned about their business interests being affected by Paul’s success in gospel preaching. People have believed, confessed, repented, and are now not buying the things they used to buy. But there is something deeper going on in Ephesus.
No one wants to be a poser. A hanger-on. A pretender. A fake. A phony. That is unless there is money, power, fame, or status that comes with the titles. Then plenty of people will endure the unflattering title. It is just as true in a spiritual setting. People historically have been willing to fake it as a Christian leader or influencer to gain riches, fame, and power. It is ugly. It is gross. It is sin. It is dangerous before God.
